IMPROVEMENT PERFORMED ON AN INDUSTRIAL ROLLER-KILN VIA CFD MODELLING

The computational simulation findings from improvement performed on an industrial-sized roller-kiln are presented in this paper. The improvement was emphasized on the temperature distribution during the drying process of ceramic-tiles. A computational fluid-dynamics (CFD) solver was used in the modelling and simulation of the temperature circulation. Tetrahedral meshes were generated with boundary-conditions according to the actual roller-kiln. The CFD results were shown in contour-plots, demonstrating homogeneous heat transfer and circulation of air-flow throughout the roller-kiln. An experimental prototype was constructed to validate the CFD findings. The results showed comparable range in temperature, validating the findings obtained from the CFD simulation. A secondary CFD simulation was also performed, using altered burner-temperature configurations for the modelling and meshing. The results also demonstrated consistent and uniform temperature distribution within the roller-kiln when compared to the initial CFD results. This consistency in heat transfer has proven that a similar drying profile can be achieved, despite the change in burner-temperature configuration.